Qawwali's
devotional themes of love come from Allah and are sung by men who
belong to a Sufi tradition and trace their music back over seven
hundred years to the spiritual Samah songs of Persia. There is a long
tradition of Qawwali singers in the Ali Khan family, including the
man who brought Qawwali to the West -- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Like
his father, uncles and grandfathers before him, Nusrat sang with a
fervor and style that reverberated within the being of all his
listeners. During his lifetime, Nusrat saw his audience grow from
Pakistani devotionalists to a larger, more international group
comprised of many races and religions from around the world.

When Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passed away in 1997, having just completed his biggest American tour to date,
he was at his peak in popularity, and his voice was clear, powerful and inspirational. His group also featured Rahat
Fateh Ali Khan, who continues the Ali Khan legacy. Longtime collaborator Baba Varma recorded The Final Moment, a
1996 concert of ecstatic Sufi compositions — a celebration for all who attended — now a vital and loving
document of the Voice of the Century.